Every so often, I write about books I’ve read on StoryWeaver that have left an impression on me in one way or another. Free books are precious! And over 30,000 free books? Priceless! Here are a few I read and loved recently.
In the past, most of the books I’ve read have been Level 1 and Level 2 books, but somehow, in the last few months, I’ve been drawn to slightly longer books. Though I’ve divided them into broad themes, each story is more than just the theme I’ve chosen for it.
Friendship
Friendship takes various forms, and, in some ways, perhaps most of the books on my list this time are about friendship.
Goplu’s Train Ride written by Timira Gupta and illustrated by Parmita Mukherjee explores that glorious moment of friendship that is full of possibility and yet, complete in itself. I love it. Can you make a friend through the bars of a local train? How do you make a friend without exchanging a word?
The Birthday Cake written by Andaleeb Wajid and illustrated by Kabini Amin is about another kind of friendship. All kinds of people live together in this world of ours. Some are grumpy and downright frightening. But maybe, just maybe, they’re lonely. Can we make friends with people who don’t seem to want friendship?
Being Unwanted
Even the idea of being unwanted makes me miserable. What if no one – no one at all – wanted me? What if people bullied me, despised me, teased me and tormented me? Would I have the spirit to fight back or would I retreat into a safe space inside my head?
A Dog Called Shoo written by Kavitha Punniyamurthi and illustrated by Sarthak Sinha is about a little dog shrinking into a dark corner because no one wants her. She was once part of a family, but was abandoned when the family felt she was more trouble than she was worth.
You Won’t Believe Me written by Jairaj Singh and illustrated by Bhargavi Rudraraju left me reeling. What a powerful book! It begins harmlessly – with the narrator confessing he likes school and then, slowly it takes us into a dark place before, ultimately, showing us the light again. I love it!
Identity
Sweet Memories of Gutar Goo written and illustrated by Priya Kuriyan is such an unusual book! I had a laugh in my throat right through the story, as I read about the milestones in the pigeon Gutar Goo’s life. In the gentlest possible way, Gutar Goo explores identity, family and belonging.
I Want to Ride a Motorbike written by Aarthi Parthasarathy and illustrated by Rai has been on my list of books to read for ages, but somehow, I never got around to it until last week. Even in “modern” families, gender discrimination often creeps in. The same father who is enthusiastic about his son getting a learner’s licence to ride a motorbike feels that a motorbike isn’t safe for his daughter Diya. But Diya soon discovers that a battle against gender stereotypes isn’t new to her family, and she finds an unexpected ally!
And finally, a book that defies any sort of classification – On Mondays I Want to Hide, written by Shabnam Minwalla and illustrated by Upasana Mehnidratta. Doesn’t the title just draw you into the book?
I’m not one who wants to hide on Mondays, but I love the book! I love all the comparisons, especially as, growing up, I imagined each day of the week as a certain colour. Days I didn’t like were dark, dark grey bordering on black, and days I loved were full of possibility and light. What if I’d imagined people instead? This book would then have been about me!
That’s all for now. I can’t express how grateful I to StoryWeaver for being the treasure trove that it is!
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